For the last two decades, nanomaterials (NMs) have been successfully processed to impart superior mechanical, electrical and chemical properties to the materials used in innovative energy technologies that are critical for a sustainable energy future. It is important to know the possibilities as well as limitations of the use of NMs in providing sustainable solutions for issues of all forms of energy. The present talk will focus on the applications of carbon nanostructures (fullerenes, carbon nanotubes and graphene) and metal oxides (ZnO and TiO₂) for light weight composites for terrestrial and space transportation [1,2]; energy production such as solar cells and fuel cells; energy storage using supercapacitors [3,4] and batteries; and energy transmission using quantum wires. Incorporation of NM nanocomposite structures are being pursued for applications of hydrogen storage [5] as well. Life cycle assessment of these NMs as well as the environmental, health and safety considerations will be discussed.

References:

1) Bismark Mensah, Han Gil Kim, Jong-Hwan Lee, Sivaram Arepalli and Changwoon Nah, “Carbon nanotube-reinforced elastomeric nanocomposites: a review”, International Journal of Smart and Nano Materials, Vol. 6, pp. 211-238 (2016).

2) Sivaram Arepalli and Padraig Maloney, “Engineered nanomaterials in aerospace”, MRS Bulletin Vol. 40, Issue 10, pp 804-811 (2015).

3) Srikrishna Pandey_, Uday N. Maiti, Kowsalya Palanisamy, Pavel Nikolaev, and Sivaram Arepalli “Ultrasonicated Double Wall Carbon Nanotubes for Enhanced Electric Double Layer Capacitance”, Appl. Phys. Lett. Vol. 104, 233902 (2014).

4) Hae-Kyung Jeong, Meihua Jin, Eun Ju Ra, Kyeu Yoon Sheem, Sivaram Arepalli and Young Hee Lee, “Enhanced Electric Double Layer Capacitance of Graphite Oxide Intercalated by Poly Sodium 4-Styrensulfonate with High Cycle Stability”, ACS Nano, Vol. 4, pp. 1162-1166 (2010).

5) N. F. Attia, S. Arepalli, and K. E. Geckeler, “Polyaniline-inorganic nanotube composites: potential hydrogen storage materials at room temperature”, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 38, pp. 9251-9262 (2013).